1. health and fitness
2. disease

Diagnosis and evaluation
of pulmonary hypertension
MARIE M. BUDEV, DO, MPH; ALEJANDRO C. ARROLIGA, MD;
■ ABSTRACT
The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) relies
on a high index of suspicion. In patients with symptoms or chest radiographic findings suggestive of
PH, a detailed history and physical examination followed by early assessment with a transthoracic
echocardiogram, ventilation-perfusion scanning,
chest computed tomography, pulmonary function
testing, and nocturnal oximetry screening can provide valuable information about etiology and severity. Right heart catheterization should follow in
patients who are symptomatic or who demonstrate
moderate to severe PH by echocardiography and
are candidates for treatment. Patients at risk for
developing PH should undergo serial echocardiography and pulmonary function testing to assess for
disease development and progression. Genetic testing is not currently recommended in the routine
evaluation of patients with a diagnosis of primary
pulmonary hypertension.
P
ulmonary hypertension (PH) often presents
in an insidious manner, requiring a high
index of suspicion by the clinician making
the diagnosis. In many cases the diagnosis
From the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.
Address: Constance A. Jennings, MD, Department of
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, A90, The Cleveland
Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH
44195; e-mail: jenninc@ccf.org.
Disclosure: All of the authors have indicated that they have
no commercial affiliations or interests that pose a potential
conflict of interest with this article.
AND
CONSTANCE A. JENNINGS, MD
may be delayed because of the nonspecificity of
symptoms and the relative rarity of PH. The
National Institutes of Health’s Primary Pulmonary
Hypertension Patient Registry noted that the mean
interval from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis is
about 2 years.1 Patient evaluation for PH should be
directed to establish the etiology and the severity of
the disease (Table 1, Figure 1), both of which will
influence the selection of treatment strategies. This
article reviews the diagnostic workup and evaluation for patients with known or suspected PH and
the role of genetic testing and screening.
■ HISTORY-TAKING: THOROUGHNESS IS KEY
The symptoms of PH are nonspecific and often are
difficult to differentiate from those of other pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases, so a thorough
clinical history should be taken for all patients with
suspected PH. Dyspnea on exertion is by far the most
common complaint. Up to one third of patients with
PH and normal coronary arteries report chest pain,
which probably is attributable to increased myocardial oxygen demand caused by elevated right ventricular wall stress from dilation or hypertrophy or by
reduced oxygen supply from decreased myocardial
blood flow.2 Syncope or presyncope may occur in
one third of patients with PH owing to a reduced,
fixed cardiac output, atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, or right ventricular ischemia.3 Syncope is an
ominous sign and usually indicates severe PH with
marked elevation of right heart pressures. Rarely,
patients may complain of hoarseness (Ortner syndrome) attributable to impingement of the left
recurrent laryngeal nerve between the aorta and a
dilated left pulmonary artery.4
The composite effect of elevated pulmonary
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TABLE 1
Hemodynamic classification
of pulmonary hypertension
Precapillary pulmonary hypertension
Primary pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension due to collagen
vascular disease
Eisenmenger syndrome
Portopulmonary hypertension
HIV-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension due to appetite
suppressants
Pulmonary hypertension induced by high altitude,
obstructive sleep apnea, or hypoxia
Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Postcapillary pulmonary hypertension
Left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction
Aortic stenosis or regurgitation
Primary mitral regurgitation
Mitral valve obstruction
Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease
Mixed pulmonary hypertension
Chronic primary systolic left ventricular failure
Aortic stenosis
Chronic aortic and primary mitral regurgitation
Mitral valve obstruction
Selective or nonselective increases
in pulmonary blood flow
Atrial septal defect
Ventricular septal defect
Patent ductus arteriosus
High-output cardiac failure (thyrotoxicosis, Paget disease)
Liver disease
Chronic anemia
artery pressure, exertional hypoxemia, and reduced
right ventricular performance can be gauged clinically according to the New York Heart Association
(NYHA) functional classification, by which
patients may report dyspnea with ordinary physical
activity (class II), with less than ordinary activity
(class III), or at rest (class IV).5 Functional classification has a high correlation with prognosis and a
significant impact on treatment selection.6
Since most patients have an underlying etiology
that explains the presence of PH, careful attention
should be given to symptoms related to associated
diseases. In addition, patients with underlying disS10
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eases that predispose to PH should undergo a careful history directed at the symptoms of PH.7
Patients with connective tissue disease should be
evaluated especially carefully with respect to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Patients with
scleroderma who have PAH have a higher mortality than those without PAH,8,9 and recent clinical
studies have indicated a 30% to 35% prevalence of
PAH in scleroderma patients,10–12 although earlier
retrospective studies based on autopsy or surgical
pathology specimens reported a higher incidence.13,14 Pulmonary arterial hypertension occurs in
9% to 14% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and carries a 2-year mortality rate of greater
than 50% in these patients.15 Factors associated
with an increased incidence of PAH include use of
cytotoxic agents, presence of Raynaud phenomenon, renal disease, ribonucleoprotein antibody, and
circulating lupus anticoagulant.16 The mean duration of systemic lupus at the time of PAH diagnosis
is 2.4 years; however, because PAH may be the presenting symptom, a careful history directed toward
symptoms associated with systemic lupus erythematosus is advised.17
History-taking in patients with possible PAH
should specifically seek to identify risk factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection since studies have indicated a shorter average duration of symptoms attributable to PAH and a
faster disease evolution in HIV-infected patients.18,19
A detailed medication history should be elicited
that includes use of illicit drugs, prescription medicines, over-the-counter remedies, and herbal supplements. A known association exists between PAH
and a history of appetite suppressant use (dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, and phentermine), with a relative risk for PAH after 3 months of use that is
approximately 23-fold higher than that of the general population.20
A history suggestive of other diseases with known
associations with PH should be sought, including
pulmonary thromboemboli, hepatic disease, thyroid
disease, sickle cell disease, congenital heart disease,
conditions associated with elevated left heart pressures, and conditions associated with hypoxemia.2
■ THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION:
A WINDOW INTO ETIOLOGY, SEVERITY
The physical examination in a patient with suspected PH may yield valuable information about the eti-
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ology and severity of the disorder. The most consistent finding in patients with PH is an increased pulmonic component of the second heart sound (P2).
Elevation of the jugular venous pulsations, murmurs
of pulmonic and tricuspid insufficiency, and a right
ventricular heave with an S3 gallop are secondary
findings also associated with PH.21 Physical signs of
underlying causes of PH may be present and
include21:
• central cyanosis due to Eisenmenger syndrome
(right-to-left intracardiac shunting)
• clubbing due to congenital heart disease, interstitial lung disease, or hepatic cirrhosis
• hepatomegaly, ascites, or spider angiomata, indicating underlying cirrhosis
• scleroderma, sclerodactyly, telangiectasias, or
other findings indicating an underlying connective tissue disease.
■ DIAGNOSTIC TESTING:
MANY TOOLS CAN AID ASSESSMENT
Because of the nonspecificity of symptoms and the
subtlety of physical signs in most patients with PH,
the history and physical examination provide only
limited information on the presence and severity of
disease. The following investigational tools can supplement the history and examination in assessing
the presence and severity of PH.
Echocardiography
Transthoracic echocardiography should be performed as the initial study in patients suspected of
having PH, owing to its sensitivity and noninvasiveness.5 Doppler echocardiography is used to estimate the right ventricular systolic pressure by measuring tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and also provides information about the size and function of the
right ventricle, as well as estimates of right atrial
pressure.21 Right ventricular systolic pressure estimates by echocardiography correlate well with pulmonary artery systolic pressure by right heart
catheterization in patients with PH.22,23 However,
the right ventricular systolic pressure may be underestimated in some cases because of suboptimal tracings of the regurgitant jet, decreased tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity due to high right atrial pressures, or poor estimation of right atrial pressures.2,24
Thus, all patients with a significantly elevated right
ventricular systolic pressure on transthoracic
echocardiography and those evoking a high degree
of clinical suspicion for significant PH despite a normal transthoracic echocardiogram should undergo
right heart catheterization for confirmation, especially if they are candidates for treatment.
Transthoracic echocardiography may also provide valuable clues about the presence of cardiac
causes of PH, such as left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction, mitral valve disease, and intracardiac shunting. Bubble contrast echocardiography
provides information on significant intracardiac
shunting, but if visualization of the atrial septum is
inadequate, transesophageal echocardiography or
right heart catheterization with oximetry may be
required.2 Transesophageal echocardiography is
especially helpful in detecting atypically situated
sinus venous atrial septal defects, anomalous pulmonary venous return, and centrally located pulmonary thrombi.25
Because of the high prevalence of PAH in
patients with scleroderma, all patients with scleroderma should undergo screening transthoracic
echocardiography.26 However, routine echocardiographic screening is not recommended for patients
with systemic lupus erythematosus unless they have
symptoms consistent with PAH. First-degree relatives of patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) should undergo transthoracic echocardiography at the time of diagnosis of the index case,
every 3 to 5 years thereafter, and at any time symptoms arise that are suggestive of PAH.2
Other laboratory investigations
Chest radiography may indicate the presence of
PH. A right descending pulmonary artery width
greater than 17 mm has been associated with elevated pulmonary artery pressures.27 Linear calcification of the right pulmonary artery indicates severe
longstanding PH.21 A globular heart and decreased
retrosternal air space may suggest right ventricular
dilation or hypertrophy.28 Abnormalities such as
interstitial changes or emphysematous change may
indicate the presence of underlying parenchymal
disease, or nodular densities may suggest pulmonary
vasculitis.21 Chest radiography and spirometry are
abnormal in up to 73% of patients with PAH related to scleroderma.29
Electrocardiography can frequently reveal evidence of right atrial or ventricular enlargement in
patients with PH.24
The ventilation-perfusion scan is the most useful screening test for pulmonary thromboemboli. At
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Suspected pulmonary hypertension
• High-risk individual
(scleroderma, obstructive sleep apnea, HIV)
• Suggestive clinical history
• Suggestive physical examination
• Suggestive chest radiograph
• Incidental finding on echocardiography
Left ventricular dysfunction
Valvular heart disease
Congenital heart disease
PVOD
Confirmation by right
heart catheterization
Secondary pulmonary
hypertension
Standard evaluation
Doppler echocardiography
showing elevated right
ventricular systolic pressure
or dilated right ventricle
COPD
Interstitial lung disease
Chest radiography
Obstructive sleep apnea
Chronic hypoxemia
Polysomnography
Chronic thromboembolic
disease
Ventilation-perfusion scan
HIV infection
Portopulmonary hypertension
Collagen vascular disease
Serologic testing
Pulmonary function testing
No evidence for
alternative etiologies of
pulmonary hypertension
Confirmation by right heart
catheterization
Primary pulmonary hypertension
PVOD = pulmonary veno-occlusive disease; COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Figure 1. Clinical algorithm for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.
least one segmental-sized or larger perfusion defect
will be present in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, and most
patients will have several segmental or lobar mismatched defects that give the scan a characteristic
“moth-eaten” appearance.30
For patients with a ventilation-perfusion scan
suggestive of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary
hypertension, pulmonary angiography can provide
additional information on the extent and the locaS12
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tion of thromboemboli.2 However, if residual thromboemboli are incorporated into the pulmonary arterial wall or are located distally in the small segments, conventional angiography may underestimate the extent of thrombus. In selected cases,
angioscopy allows better visualization of thromboemboli and their surgical accessibility.31,32
Intravascular ultrasound may provide useful information on proximal thrombi amenable to thromboendarterectomy or in the differentiation between
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acute and chronic thromboembolic disease.2,33,34
Chest computed tomographic scanning is a useful part of the evaluation of patients with known or
suspected PH. Helical studies with contrast are helpful in identifying proximal thromboembolic disease.
An increased diameter of the main pulmonary artery
(≥ 29 mm) is highly predictive of the presence of PH
(sensitivity 84%, specificity 75%, positive predictive
value 0.97), especially when seen in association
with an artery-to-bronchus ratio greater than 1:1 in
multiple lobes (specificity 100%).35 High-resolution
computed tomographic scans are helpful in diagnosing and staging interstitial lung disease and may suggest the possibility of chronic thromboemblic disease, with a “mosaic” pattern of the lung parenchyma, although this pattern is also associated with PH
in the absence of thromboemboli.36 A decreased
density gradient between dependent and nondependent lung has also been described as an early indicator of PH.37
Magnetic resonance imaging can be used to
assess the size and function of the right ventricle,
myocardial thickness, the presence of chronic
thromboemboli, and cardiac and pulmonary pressures.38 In a recent study, gadolinium-enhanced pulmonary magnetic resonance angiography showing a
right pulmonary artery diameter greater than 28 mm
allowed for the diagnosis of chronic PH with a high
sensitivity (89%) and a high negative predictive
value (94%).39
Pulmonary function testing should be part of the
initial evaluation of patients with known or suspected PH to assess for abnormalities of the pulmonary
parenchyma or airways that may be relevant to the
etiology of PH.21 A restrictive defect with a reduction in lung volumes to less than 80% of the predicted value is present in 20% of patients with
chronic thromboembolic disease.30 A reduction of
the diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide
(DLCO) (< 45%) out of proportion to a decline in
the forced vital capacity has an 87% sensitivity in
predicting PAH in patients with scleroderma2 and
may be the earliest sign of PAH in these patients.29,40
A partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) value
less than 30 mm Hg has been associated with high
positive (87%) and negative (73%) predictive values for portopulmonary hypertension in patients
with end-stage liver disease.41 Evaluation by nocturnal oximetry screening and/or polysomnography
for evidence of obstructive sleep apnea and nocturnal hypoxemia is also advised since the results have
both diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Maximum exercise testing is usually not performed in patients with PH because of the risk of
syncope or sudden death.42 Submaximal testing with
a 6-minute walk test is recommended at the time of
diagnosis to establish baseline functional impairment and at follow-up to assess response to therapy
and prognosis. The mortality risk is increased 2.4fold in patients with PPH who are able to walk less
than 300 m in 6 minutes and 2.9-fold in those with
a greater than 10% decline in arterial oxygen saturation.43 The 6-minute walk distance correlates with
severity by NYHA functional class in patients with
PPH, and patients who walk less than 332 m have a
significantly lower survival rate than those who
walk farther.44
Lung biopsy is not without risk in patients with
PH. It is usually reserved for cases in which a
histopathologic diagnosis may alter treatment, such
as when active vasculitis, granulomatous disease,
pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, or interstitial
lung disease is suspected.45
Right heart catheterization
Right heart catheterization remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of PH. All patients suspected
of having significant PH after clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation should undergo
right heart catheterization, particularly if they are
candidates for treatment. Right heart catheterization
establishes the pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary
vascular resistance, and cardiac output, as well as the
effect of vasodilators on these parameters.
Pulmonary hypertension is defined by right heart
catheterization as a mean pulmonary artery pressure
greater than 25 mm Hg at rest or greater than 30 mm
Hg during exercise. The severity of PH is further
classified on the basis of mean pulmonary artery
pressure as mild (25 to 40 mm Hg), moderate (41 to
55 mm Hg), or severe (> 55 mm Hg).46 Pulmonary
hypertension secondary to left heart disease or
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease usually presents with mild to moderate elevation of mean pulmonary artery pressures (25 to 45 mm Hg). More
severe PAH is typically found in PPH, in the setting
of collagen vascular disease, or in chronic pulmonary
thromboembolism.6 In most cases of portopulmonary
hypertension the increase in pressures is mild with
minimal elevations in pulmonary vascular resistance, although a subset of patients with severe PH
with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance are dis-
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TABLE 2
Hemodynamic profile in pulmonary hypertension
Type
Pulmonary capillary
wedge pressure
Pulmonary artery pressure
(systolic, diastolic, mean)
Precapillary
pulmonary
hypertension
Normal
↑
↑
5–15 mm Hg higher
than pulmonary
capillary wedge pressure
Postcapillary
pulmonary
hypertension
↑
↑
Normal
5–15 mm Hg higher
than pulmonary capillary
wedge pressure
Mixed
pulmonary
hypertension
↑
↑
↑
Modestly higher than
pulmonary capillary
wedge pressure
Selective or
nonselective
increases
in pulmonary
blood flow
Inaccurate
because of high
pulmonary artery
pressures
↑↑
Normal or ↑
↑
tinguished by right heart catheterization.47
A decreased mixed venous saturation consistent
with low cardiac output has been found to be a
strong predictor of poor outcome in some studies.
Any subsequent increase in the mixed venous saturation with treatment may indicate an improvement
in the cardiac index that is due to decreased right
ventricular afterload.42
In some symptomatic patients with evidence of
only mild or moderate elevation of pulmonary
artery systolic pressures on echocardiography, measurement of hemodynamics at rest and during exercise by echocardiography may be needed to establish PH as the etiology of symptoms. In these
patients, right heart catheterization can provide
helpful additional data. In precapillary PH, the pulmonary artery pressures and resistance are elevated
at rest but the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure is
normal (Table 2). During exercise, the pressure
increases, but the normal decrease in vascular resistance does not occur.
In cases where the pulmonary capillary wedge
pressure is noted to be elevated, the diagnosis of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease or left-sided heart
disease should be considered.4 In older patients, the
pulmonary capillary wedge pressure may increase
(> 30 mm Hg) during exercise because of decreased
left ventricular compliance. These patients should
be treated for systemic hypertension and diastolic
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Pulmonary vascular
Pulmonary artery
resistance
end diastolic pressure
dysfunction but should not be aggressively treated
for PH.2,21 In certain cases a mixed hemodynamic
picture may be present owing to progressive pulmonary vasculopathy in response to chronic elevation of the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure.
Some patients with mild to moderate PH can be
followed or managed without right heart catheterization. Those with mild to moderate PH due to
chronic hypoxemia (resting, exertional, or nocturnal) can be followed with serial echocardiography
for evidence of progression on appropriate oxygen
and/or nocturnal ventilatory support. For patients
with mild to moderate PH by echocardiography in
the setting of other known causes, such as scleroderma, who do not have NYHA class III symptoms,
right heart catheterization can be reserved as a
future option if PH progresses on serial echocardiography (every 3 to 6 months).
■ GENETIC TESTING ADVANCES,
BUT NOT YET RECOMMENDED
Primary pulmonary hypertension is usually sporadic,
but in nearly 100 families in the United States the
disease has occurred in at least two first-degree relatives. Documenting familial PPH can be difficult
because of skipped generations resulting from
incomplete penetrance or variable expression.
Many individuals in families with PPH may inherit
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the gene and have children with PPH yet never
develop PPH themselves. The female-to-male ratio,
age at disease onset, and natural history of PPH are
similar between patients with the familial form of
PPH and those with the sporadic form.48
The locus designation gene for familial PPH,
known as PPH1, is on chromosome 2q31–32 and is
transmitted in an autosomal dominant manner.
Familial PPH is caused by mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II gene (BMPR2),
which encodes a transforming growth factor beta
(TGF-β) receptor. The TGF-β signaling pathway
appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of PPH
and may provide a target for future therapies.49
A complete family history should be obtained in
every patient with PPH. Because there is a lifetime
penetrance of 10% to 20%, the likelihood of a firstdegree relative being affected by PPH is about 0.6%
to 1.2% when only one individual in the family has
PPH, even if the PPH1 gene is present. If there is a
second case in the family, the lifetime risk rises to
5% to 10%. Offspring of an affected parent have a
5% to 10% lifetime risk of developing PPH.48
Most experts advise against genetic testing of
family members of patients with PPH because
knowledge of the gene and its interaction with
other factors contributing to PH is still in its infancy and because the overall risk in first-degree relatives is low. When genetic testing is performed, it is
critical to ensure both appropriate genetic analysis
and appropriate genetic counseling.50
Primary pulmonary hypertension has also been
associated with autoimmune phenomena, but the
genetic significance remains unclear.50
■ SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Certain diseases and clinical states are associated
with an increased prevalence of PH. We conclude
by presenting the following recommendations on
screening strategies for select population subgroups
with factors that put them at risk for PH.
Systemic autoimmune disease
An elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and
increased immunoglobulin G levels have been
reported in patients with PAH due to scleroderma.51–53 Serologic studies show that antiphospholipid antibodies are almost twice as prevalent (60%
to 68%) in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
with PAH as compared to those patients without
PAH.54 Assessing lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies may identify patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who are at increased risk
for venous thromboemboli and PAH.54
Liver disease
The prevalence of PH is approximately 1% in
patients with chronic liver disease or portal hypertension but is approximately 4% in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation.55 All patients
being evaluated for liver transplantation should
undergo transthoracic echocardiography to assess for
portopulmonary hypertension since the presence of
PH increases the risk of complications during transplantation. Transthoracic echocardiography is
reported to be 97% sensitive and 77% specific in
diagnosing moderate to severe PAH in patients with
portal hypertension.56,57
HIV infection, intravenous drug abuse
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is reported in 0.5%
of HIV-infected patients.58 It is not related to the
degree of immunodeficiency or the duration of the
disease. Diagnostic screening with transthoracic
echocardiography is recommended only in HIVinfected patients who have symptoms consistent
with PAH.59,60
Pulmonary hypertension in patients with a history of intravenous drug abuse is caused by embolization of foreign particles that are injected with the
drug. Because the presence of PH is variable in this
population, screening with transthoracic echocardiography is recommended only in individuals with
symptoms consistent with PH.61 Open lung biopsy is
generally not indicated unless a confirmatory diagnosis of PH due to intravenous drug use needs to be
established.
Hyperthyroidism
Pulmonary hypertension in patients with hyperthyroidism may be due to a high cardiac output state,
endothelial damage, increased metabolism of intrinsic pulmonary vasodilating substances, or increased
cholinergic output and reduced vasodilator
response.62,63 The usefulness of screening echocardiography in these patients is unclear.
Obstructive sleep apnea
and parenchymal lung disease
There is a well-described association between
obstructive sleep apnea and PH. Prevalence rates of
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PH in patients with obstructive sleep apnea range
from 17% to 79%; PH is usually mild in these
patients but may be severe.64 The etiology is most
likely multifactorial and related to a combination of
daytime and nocturnal hypoxemia, changes in
pleural pressure, alveolar hypoventilation, and elevated endothelin levels.65 Patients with sleep apnea
documented by polysomnography with symptoms of
dyspnea should be screened for PH with echocardiography.66 One recent study found that 22% of
patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea
(defined as an apnea-hypopnea index > 30) had evidence of daytime PH.67
Patients with parenchymal lung disease leading
to resting, nocturnal, or exertional hypoxemia may
also develop PH. Echocardiographic screening in
this setting is based on abnormal cardiac auscultation, rapid exertional desaturation, and progression
of dyspnea or hypoxemia in the context of stable
lung volumes and flows.
Other conditions
Pulmonary hypertension has been associated with
other conditions, including hypothyroidism, L-tryptophan use, hyperuricemia, and sickle cell disease,
but the predictive value of early screening is not yet
clear.2 A recent clinicopathologic study of 20 cases
of sickle cell hemoglobinopathy noted a high prevalence of PH and high mortality. These groups of
patients may benefit from regular periodic assessments for PH with directed history, physical examination, and transthoracic echocardiography.68
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